Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors looks to shoot the ball during the first quarter of his NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. less

Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors looks to shoot the ball during the first quarter of his NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 14, ... more

Photo: Stephen Lam, Special To The Chronicle

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Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant smiles during a break in play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, in Oakland, Calif.

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant smiles during a break in play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, in Oakland, Calif.

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

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Kevin Durant drives to the hoop. He finished with 36 points, the third time since Stephen Curry’s injury he’s topped 35.

Kevin Durant drives to the hoop. He finished with 36 points, the third time since Stephen Curry’s injury he’s topped 35.

Photo: Stephen Lam / Special To The Chronicle

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Omri Casspi had his first double-double as a Warrior, with season highs in points and boards.

Omri Casspi had his first double-double as a Warrior, with season highs in points and boards.

Photo: Stephen Lam / Special To The Chronicle

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Jordan Bell #2 of the Golden State Warriors is seen during before his NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017.

Jordan Bell #2 of the Golden State Warriors is seen during before his NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017.

Photo: Stephen Lam / Special To The Chronicle

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Head Coach Steve Kerr is seen on the sideline during the first quarter of his NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017.

Head Coach Steve Kerr is seen on the sideline during the first quarter of his NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017.

Photo: Stephen Lam / Special To The Chronicle

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Patrick McCaw #0 of the Golden State Warriors smiles during the national anthem before his NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017.

Patrick McCaw #0 of the Golden State Warriors smiles during the national anthem before his NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017.

Photo: Stephen Lam / Special To The Chronicle

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Members of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after a three pointer by teammate Klay Thompson #11 during the fourth quarter of their NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. The Warriors defeated the Mavericks 112-97. less

Members of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after a three pointer by teammate Klay Thompson #11 during the fourth quarter of their NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena in ... more

Photo: Stephen Lam, Special To The Chronicle

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Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a jumper during the second quarter of their NBA basketball game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017.

Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a jumper during the second quarter of their NBA basketball game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017.

Photo: Stephen Lam, Special To The Chronicle

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David West #3 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket as he is being foul by Antonius Cleveland #44 of the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter of their NBA basketball game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. less

David West #3 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket as he is being foul by Antonius Cleveland #44 of the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter of their NBA basketball game at Oracle Arena in ... more

Photo: Stephen Lam, Special To The Chronicle

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Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors looks to pass the ball as Wesley Matthews #23 of the Dallas Mavericks defends during the second quarter of their NBA basketball game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. less

Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors looks to pass the ball as Wesley Matthews #23 of the Dallas Mavericks defends during the second quarter of their NBA basketball game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, ... more

Five months after signing a one-year, veteran-minimum deal with the Warriors, Omri Casspi lingered on the Oracle Arena court Thursday night as he fielded questions surrounded by cameras.

A man who grew up in Yavne, Israel, had just delivered his best performance of the season on Jewish Heritage Night. In helping Golden State overcome a sluggish start for a 112-97 win over Dallas, Casspi posted season highs in points (17) and rebounds (11) for his first double-double with the Warriors.

“I always say, ‘I want to stay sharp, and I want to stay ready for whenever I’m being called upon,’” said Casspi, whose family is in town for Hanukkah. “Whenever I come into the game, I want to be ready to go.”

With Stephen Curry (sprained right ankle), Draymond Green (right shoulder soreness), Zaza Pachulia (left shoulder soreness) and Nick Young (concussion) out, Kevin Durant continued to reinforce why Golden State is so fortunate to have another MVP shouldering the load. Durant posted 11 rebounds, seven assists and 36 points on 15-for-23 shooting. It was the third time in the four games since Curry got injured that he had at least 35 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

His most memorable moment, however, won’t be reflected in the box score. Late in the third quarter, after a loose ball smacked a woman sitting courtside in the face, Durant kissed her on the cheek. It came just more than five years after Durant, then with Oklahoma City, smooched an elderly woman on the forehead after his errant pass hit her.

Once again playing the part of Durant’s sidekick, Klay Thompson had 25 points on 10-for-18 shooting. Casspi’s outburst highlighted another workhorse effort from Golden State’s role players. In addition to an eight-point, eight-assist, six-rebound gem from rookie Jordan Bell, Andre Iguodala dished out 10 assists.

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It all allowed the Warriors to exorcise the memory of a sloppy first half. Midway through the third quarter, Golden State began to resemble the imaginative, free-flowing group that cruised to an NBA title in June.

David West’s vicious two-handed dunk with six minutes left put the Warriors up 100-83. West turned, raised his arms and yelled, “What?” It was the lasting image on a night Golden State won its eighth straight and fourth without Curry.

Before and after shoot-around Thursday, Kerr warned his players to expect a difficult game against Dallas. The Warriors’ biggest issue this season has been inattention, and they had plenty of reasons to lose focus against a team that entered Thursday tied with Memphis for last place in the Western Conference standings.

Dallas was without several rotation players, including rookie guard Dennis Smith Jr., and is one of four NBA teams averaging fewer than 100 points per game. But the Mavericks’ record overshadowed strides. Two nights earlier, Dallas had topped San Antonio in Kawhi Leonard’s season debut.

Kerr’s warnings weren’t enough to prevent Golden State from opening lackadaisically. By the time they ended the first quarter trailing 28-24, the Warriors had committed seven turnovers. The Mavericks led by as many as eight before Golden State started taking better care of the ball and tightened enough defensively to knot the game 48-48 at halftime.

Casspi scored eight points in the third quarter to help the Warriors create distance. After the final buzzer sounded, he did his on-court interview for TV before stepping to the podium for only his second postgame news conference of the season.

The high point came moments later. Surrounded by friends, family and Golden State fans, he sang along in Hebrew to celebrate the third night of Hanukkah.